The tribunal has long had a serious backlog of cases, and to assist in clearing it Ms Eyre and her fellow deputies have been given the power to make and write decisions, formerly the province of tribunal chairman Rodger Haines and chairwoman Martha Roche.
Ms Eyre, a visiting justice, Disputes Tribunal referee and member of the Real Estate Agents Authority complaints assessment committee, is a former Kavanagh College pupil and University of Otago student.
Of Tongan and Pakeha descent and with a bachelor of arts degree in Maori, Ms Eyre has practised law in Dunedin and Auckland for the past 18 years.
''In Auckland I was doing refugee claims, and then I was in private practice doing Treaty of Waitangi claims, specialising in contemporary Treaty claims,'' she said.
''Retrospectively, all the areas of work I have done have almost led to a human rights-type position, although this one wasn't a conscious decision, as the deputy roles are newly created ... it all sort of came together for me that I met the criteria for a role with the tribunal, but, more importantly, the issues that I care about are addressed by that.''
The Human Rights Review Tribunal hears claims relating to breaches of the Human Rights Act, Privacy Act and Health and Disability Commissioner Act.
It hears cases related to discrimination, sexual harassment, racial harassment, the privacy principles, and the health consumers' code of rights.
Ms Eyre's role is a full-time one for five years. In it she will use the skills developed in eight years working in dispute resolution in a new jurisdiction, but in familiar law.
''I have been conducting hearings; this is a step up the ladder, if you like,'' Ms Eyre said.
''I'm really looking forward to it.''
